Abeline McShane gives talk at event reaching out to Birmingham’s Gypsies, Roma and Travellers
NNS Bridging Communities was proud to welcome advocates, decision-makers, partner organisations and community representatives to its inaugural showcase event at Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Thursday 7 May, marking an important milestone for the new Birmingham City Council-funded scheme.
As the newest addition to Birmingham’s network of 12 Neighbourhood Network Schemes, NNS Bridging Communities works across Birmingham, with local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations to strengthen community-based support through funding, training and capacity-building opportunities that promote wellbeing and improve quality of life.
Working alongside fellow NNS teams across the city, the project has been established to support dispersed or underrepresented communities. Its current focus includes LGBTQ+ communities, the Deaf BSL community, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, recognising the barriers many people face when accessing services, support and opportunities.
The event also highlighted the scheme’s micro-grant funding opportunities, which are designed to support grassroots organisations in taking their first steps, building capacity, developing new initiatives and growing community provision.
The showcase was designed to introduce attendees to the Bridging Communities project and the team behind it, while opening up important conversations about how organisations can better support communities whose voices are too often overlooked.
Guests had the opportunity to meet the team, hear more about the project’s aims and share their own experiences, insights and ideas in a welcoming setting centred on connection, understanding and inclusion.
At its heart, the project aims to build stronger relationships between organisations and local people so that services become more accessible, welcoming and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve.
The three focus communities were highlighted during the event because each can experience exclusion, stigma or practical barriers when trying to access support, information and wider opportunities.
A key message throughout the day was that communities must play a central role in shaping the services that affect them. Speakers and attendees emphasised the importance of listening directly to people and responding to what communities themselves say they need.
The event also reinforced the value of partnership working, with local organisations, professionals and community members exploring ways to improve awareness, communication and access to services across Birmingham.
Discussions during the showcase included the importance of communication access for Deaf BSL residents, the need to challenge stigma and build trust with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and the value of visibility, respect and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people.
Listening, learning and working together will remain central to the NNS Bridging Communities approach as the project continues to support organisations in developing services based on what local people are asking for.
The showcase marked a positive step towards building stronger community relationships and encouraging more open conversations about inclusion across the city.
As the project develops, NNS Bridging Communities hopes to create further opportunities for communities, partners and local organisations to come together, share their voices and help shape a more inclusive future for Birmingham.
NNS press release/TT News
(Photographs courtesy of NNS)